Flowerpot



J. PAVLEKA FLOWERPOT f 'Filed April 8, 1.932 2 sheets-shet 1 INVENTORI April 3, 1934.

April 3, 1934.

J. PAvLx-:KA Y- 1,953,363

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Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES FLoWERPo'r u Jan Pavleka, Horni Berkovice, Czechoslovakia;

assignor to John Pavlecka, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 8, 1932, Serial No. 603,985 In Czechoslovakia April 10, 1931 9 claims.

My present invention relates to iiowerpots, and has for its object to present a flowerpot which is highly aggreable to various plants and at the same time possesses an attractive appearance for decorative and display purposes.

Another object of my invention is to devise a flowerpot which will preserve a clean and neat exterior and thus dispense with shrouds and concealing vessels employed in displaying flowers.

A still further object is to provide a flowerpot which is free of the inherent deciency of the customary earthenware type in which the plant roots suer at times from excessive moisture at the bottom and from rapid evaporation on the sides; besides providing, through the present invention, for more even distribution of moisture and its preservation I propose to make provision for admitting air to the bottom of the owerpot.

An object of importance is to devise a owerpot which is supported more securely thanthe common type against tipping over and moreover, one which can be set down anywhere without danger of soiling its support.

The means through which these and other desirable objects and aims are materialized will now be disclosed in the description hereinbelow in which reference is taken to the drawings accompanying this specication as an essential part thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross-section through an embodiment of the iiowe'rpot of my invention illustrating mainly the prf ciple and a typical construction of same;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding cross-section of an embodiment characterized by certain structural refinements;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an alternative form of the iiowerpot of my invention marked with ease of manufacture and intended for general utility purposes, and

Fig. 4 is a modified form of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, this form being particularly suitable for plants requiring abundant moisture.

Like numerals in all views denote like parts and inasmuch as the underlying principle and the function of all of saidrparts is the same in all embodiments, reference is taken to all the views at thesame time except Where specified otherwise. f

The flowerpot of my invention is characterized, among otherl features, by its body form which consists essentially of two portions 1 and 2, of which the upper portion 1 is preferably analogous to the usual truste-conical form of flowerpots in that it tapers downwardly to a relatively narrow section which, in the present flowerpot, is above the supporting surface therefor, and at which section the portion 1 joins the base portion 2; the latter portion is shorter than the former one and has likewise the shape of a frustum of cone,.its side walls diverging toward the supporting sur- I face and providing a wide base thereon for securing substantial stability in all directions for the owerpot against tipping over. These ltwo portions 1 and 2, both tubular irl-body and preferably frusto-conical in form together constitute the outer shell or mantle of the flowerpot, which shell is characterized, in addition to the above said body form, in that it is molded of a material that is non-porous and impervious to water either throughout its thickness or at least at and in its outer surface.4 The tubular shell or mantle 1 comprises and supports the earth container 3 having side walls and the bottom 4, said con-l tion. The container or lining 3 has side walls closely fitting and paralleling those of the shell 1, the bottom 4 sloping downwardly to the central drain hole 5 therein.

The container or lining 3 is supported in the upper shell portion 1 in such a manner that its bottom 4 is elevated above the base whereby space is provided in the portion 2 of the shell for accommodating the drip bowl or saucer 6 and moreover, for giving access of air to the bottom 4 through a plurality of air vents 7 in the walls of the base portion 2, thereby fulfilling the aim to aerate the roots of the plant. y

Having now disclosed the principle of the new flowerpot I proceed to describe inv detail several embodiments thereof as shown in the drawings. The flowerpot in Fig. 1 comprises a'shell made up of the upper frusto-conical portion 1 and the downwardly flaring base portion 2, as hereinabove, the portion 1l being adapted to support thel container 3 therein by- Virtue of said container being wedged between the downwardly tapering side walls thereof; or else, the container 3 may be in the form of porous lining molded in place and permanently bonded to the shell 1.

Fig. 2- represents an embodiment featuring the inner flange 8, which flange is substantially circular, overhanging the drip bowl 6 and centrally sloping, and is located approximately at the narrowest portion of the flowerpot shell; the flange 8 is integral with said shell and is likewise non-permeable. The object of the flange 8 is to provide a support for the container 3, this function being of special importance in flowerpots having the upper shell portion l1 cylindrical, as shown .for instance in Fig. 4, and furthermore, in any embodiment of my invention the flange 8, being nonporous and centrally sloping, causes all waste water to drip into the bowl 5 which is located normally in the center, whereby the supporting surface of the ilowerpot is protected and its cleanliness assured.

In certain cases and for reasons of low cost, weight and ease of manufacture it may be found of advantage to malte use of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 wherein the aforementioned shell and earth container are combined into a unit performing the functions of said individual elements as if they were distinct and heterogeneous; to this end, the walls of the shell, including the portions 1 and 2 are made of porous material to provide the function of the container 3 in Figs. 1 and 2, and at and in their outer surface said walls are rendered permanently waterproof to a certain depth, as by coating with a dense material or by glazing as indicated by 9 in Fig. 3. The bottom 4 remains porous all through asin the previous embodiments.V

Another structural embodiment of the principle set forth hereinabove is presented in Fig. 4, the ilowerpot in this case comprising the nonporous shell portions 1 and 2 with the flange 8 therein as in Fig. 2, and in place of the porous container 3 in Figs. 1 and 2 only the botttom 4 thereof is retained, said bottom having the form of a. slab molded of porous material and resting on the flange 8. This embodiment has been found particularly suitable for plants requiring abundant moisture and,consequently,slow drainage and reduced evaporation between watering periods.

It may be observed that in all of the above disclosed embodiments the shell, including the portions 1 and 2, is non-porousl and may be made of various such substances, as for instance china, Bakelite, metal, etc., or as an alternative construction, it is made porous and water absorbing on the inside and waterproof on the outside. This configuration is an assurance that the exterior of the ilowerpot will never be contaminated by seepage and salts flooded out from the earth therein, whereby the appearance of the flowerpot will always be preserved neat and clean and special camouflage for the exterior will be unnecessary. Furthermore, this feature may be taken advantage of by fashioning the flowerpot of my invention wtih an ornamental and artistic exterior for decorative and display purposes in homes and stores.

At'the same time the flower or plant is made to thrive in the flowerpot of my invention due tol'the fact that drainage of superfluous moisture is provided through the porous walls and bottom, or bottom alone, as in the conventional flowerpot, and furthermore, the enclosure of the porous container or lining in the water-proof shell will tend to regulate the moisture content of the earth therein to a higher degree than hitherto possible; first, the excess moisture is readily discharged through the bottom due to its porosity and elevated position above the drip bowl, thus preventing the roots of the plant from decaying due to too much moisture at this point; on the other hand, on the sides the roots of the plant have the moisture preserved longer because of the sides being shielded by the non-porous shell from direct exposure to air and sun rays and consequent rapid evaporation.

Having now described all the essential novelties and features of the flowerpot, I claim as my invention'z- 1. In a flowerpot, a tubular shell having a bottom at an elevated position therein, said shell having an upper portion above said bottom for accommodating a plant and a base portion below said bottom for accommodating a drip bowl, said bottom in said shell sloping downwardly to a central drain hole and vbeing of porous material at and around said drain hole, said shell being of non-porous material in and at the exterior surface thereof, said base portion of said shell flaring downwardly from a point at said bottom to a width substantially that of the widest section of said shell for providing stability for said ilowerpot in all directions and increasing the space for said bowl therein, said base portion having a plurality of air vents therein.

2. In a flowerpot, a tubular shell and an earth `container having an integral bottom, said shell having an upper portion for accommodating said container and a base portion for accommodating a drip bowl, said upper portion of said shell tapering downwardly and inwardly and said container being wedged therein with said bottom thereof above said bowl, and said base portion of said shell flaring downwardly from a point at said container to a width substantially that of the widest section of said shell for providing stability for said flowerpot in all directions and increasing the space for said bowl therein.

3. -In a flowerpot, a tubular shell and an earth container having an integral bottom, said shell having an upper portion for accommodating said container, a base portion for accommodating a drip bowl, a flange in said shell overhanging said bowl and sloping downwardly for supporting said container above and shedding drain water into said bowl thereunder, said base portion of said shell flaring downwardly from a point at said flange to a width substantially that of the widest section of said shell for` providing stability for said ilowerpot in all directions and increasing the space for said bowl therein.

4. A flowerpot comprising a substantially tubularv shell made of non-porous material and a slab of porous material therein as the bottom, said shell having a flange in the lower portion thereof for supporting said slab at an elevated position, said flange overhanging a drip bowl thereunder and sloping downwardly for shedding drain water centrally thereinto.

5. A flowerpot comprising a substantially tubular shell made of non-porous material and an earth 'container with an integral bottom made of porous material, said shell having a circular downwardly sloping flange in the lower portion thereof for supporting said container at an elevated positiontherein and for shedding the drain water centrally into a bowl thereunder.

6. A flowerpot comprising a substantially tubular` shell made of non-porous material, a. slab of porous material providing the bottom. therefor, said shell having a circular downwardly sloping flange in the lower portion thereof for supporting said slab at an elevated position and for shedding drain water centrally into a bowl thereunder, said shell having side walls extending from said flange upwardly to accommodatel a plant and side walls diverging from said ange downwardly to provide a relatively wide supporting base for said owerpot, said diverging side walls having a plurality of air vents therein.

'7. A flowerpot comprising a substantially tubular shell made of non-porous material and an earth container with an integral bottom made of porous material, said shell having side walls tapering downwardly and inwardly for supporting said container therebetween with said bottom thereof at an elevated position above a drip bowl thereunder, and from a point at said bottom said shell having side walls diverging downwardly to provide a relatively wide supporting base for said owerpot, said diverging side walls of said shell having a plurality of air vents therein.

8'. A owerpot comprising a substantially tubular shell made of non-porous material and an earth container with an integral bottom made of porous material, said shell having a substantion above a drip bowl thereunder, the side walls of said shell being of porous material on the inside and of non-porous material in and at the exterior surface thereof and said bottom being of porous material all through, said side walls extending from a point at said bottom upwardly to accommodate a plant and diverging downwardly to provide a relatively wide supporting base for said flowerpot, said diverging portion of said shell having a plurality of air vents therein. JAN PAVLEKA. 

